Uganda faces pressure to support Sudan sanctions

Uganda faces pressure to support Sudan sanctions

A vigorous new campaign has started that seeks to force Uganda and other countries neighbouring South Sudan to support the proposed Arms Embargo against the world’s newest country.

The campaign for an Arms embargo is said to be part of a raft of measures sponsored by the United States and being considered by UN security council members as part of a broad range of sanctions against the warring parties.

According to Reuters, more than 50 international and local human rights organisations in South Sudan have sent a petition to the leaders of Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia asking them to support an Arms Embargo against South Sudan in the UN Security council.

“South Sudanese civilians are desperate and need regional leadership to help protect them,” said Geoffrey Duke, secretariat team leader at the South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms. “More weapons will mean these civilians will face more abusive attacks: killings, rape, burnings, pillage. Now is the time to take action.”

The petition comes ahead a regional meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority of Development (IGAD) IGAD set for November 6, in Addis Ababa to discuss South Sudan.

Despite numerous peace talks by various regional leaders, the two warring factions in South Sudan led by Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, the two parties have refused to reach a compromise, with dire effects of millions of lives of the people of South Sudan.

A statement released by the group of 50 organisations adds that regional leaders: “Should emerge from the November 6 summit with a clear request to the UN Security Council to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on South Sudan, the organizations.”

Rights groups also called on IGAD to make public reports by its ceasefire monitors in South Sudan, including allegations of war crimes committed by forces there.

IGAD initiated peace talks in December 2013 in Ethiopia, soon after South Sudan’s conflict began. A cessation of hostilities agreement negotiated by the regional mediators in January has been broken on multiple occasions by both South Sudan’s government forces and the opposition.

Since the conflict started in December, tens of thousands of people, many of them civilians, have been killed and 1.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes. Parties to the conflict have used small arms and light weapons, and a range of other conventional arms and military equipment. Investigations by independent organizations conclude that both the warring parties have committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.

The region’s leaders and the regional mediators have threatened tough action on the parties to the conflict in the face of continuing clashes and attacks on civilians’ homes, churches, hospitals, and UN bases.

“Despite the threats, no action has been taken, just endless second, third, fourth chances to the benefit of the belligerents and the detriment of civilians,” said James Ninrew, executive director at Assistance Mission for Africa. “The dry season is upon us and across the conflict area communities are afraid that yet again they will be attacked.”

IGAD set up a monitoring body in South Sudan to investigate violations of the ceasefire, including the agreement by both sides not to attack civilians or their property, both of which can constitute war crimes under international law. But aside from publishing some limited information in August, mediators have kept monitoring reports private, despite repeated calls by rights groups and others to make the reports public, especially reports of serious crimes.

“Monitors have an important task to help reduce violations against civilians by showing abusive forces that they are being watched,” said Angelina Seeka, regional director at the End Impunity Organization. “But monitoring attacks is all in vain if these reports are kept under wraps.”

The groups supporting the petition includes Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam, Save the Children among others.